Seminar aims to educate dorm Airmen

Published June 19, 2009
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- First-term Airmen often fall victim to inexperience and poor judgment when they move off-base. As a result they may lower their credit score, lose money or be committed to a lease or mortgage that is not in their best interest. To help them avoid such pitfalls, the 72nd Civil Engineering Directorate Housing sector will begin holding monthly seminars.

Entitled "Off-Base Housing Preparedness," the first seminar will be held June 25 at 1:30 p.m. in the large conference room at the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

Speakers will offer legal advice, financial planning and guidance regarding safe and crime-free neighborhoods. They will also discuss Basic Allowance for Housing issues. Subsequent seminars will be offered at 1:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month at the A&FRC.

"It's very near and dear to me because I want to see these Airmen launch successfully from Tinker Air Force Base," said Meagan Gomez, 72nd CEH Unaccompanied Housing superintendent. "I want to see them go into the community being financially and mentally prepared for what they're going to face once they leave the gates of Tinker."

Ms. Gomez said Tinker has 945 rooms available in its nine active dormitories. And, there are approximately 900 residents ranging in ranks from airman basic to senior airman.

Once Airmen reach the rank of senior airman and have three years of service, they are required by Air Force instruction to move off base to make room for incoming Airmen.

The seminar is primarily designed for Airmen with two years of service, who have a year to prepare. The goal is to lessen the number of Airmen who are not financially ready to be on their own and have to be moved back in the dorms. These are labeled "Priority 1" cases.

It can be said Airmen who have never lived on their own, or who have been labeled "Priority 1" tend to have made rookie mistakes. While some cases are due to inexperience, others are because of poor judgment.

"They don't realize the cost of living off-base -- things like deposits for units and utilities," said Kathi England, 72nd CEH Off-Base Housing Referral specialist.

Airmen need to know the difference between want and need, financially speaking.

"There's a big difference between what you can buy and what you can afford," said Master Sgt. Robin Kielich, an additional duty first sergeant for the 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, who said she believes the program should be mandatory for all Airmen before they move off base. "The program introduces them to unforeseen or unexpected expenses of living off base." Other concerns like safety and well-being may not cross an Airman's mind until it is too late.

"Cost is not the biggest thing to consider when moving into a unit," Ms. England said. "The area and what will happen to your family and possessions if you are gone are a very important thing to think about before you sign a lease."

Ms. England said the seminar will also answer questions including, "What is renters' insurance and do I need it?" "How do I go about finding housing?" and "What happens if it doesn't work out like I hoped?"

"This program was designed to ensure Airmen think about the situations that may arise when they move off-base," said Carolyn Smith, A&FRC Community Readiness consultant. "They are introduced to the responsibilities that come with signing a lease and educated personnel always make better decisions."

For more information, call Ms. Gomez at 734-4421 or 734-3217; or call Ms. England at 734-7350.

Dorm moves